4.17.2014

Video: My 4 Biggest Blogging Mistakes

Hey you! I've been dealing with some computer issues (yay) so this post is way later than usual. Yesterday on my Instagram I asked what personal post you wanted to see, and this had the most votes! I still can't believe I started my blog 4 years ago and my Youtube channel a year ago. Of course so much has changed (how could it not) but mostly importantly, I've changed. I've made a ton of blogging mistakes, but today I'm sharing 4 of them (for 4 years) and I'm sharing them in video, too!

1: Blog About What YOU Want
I started my blog because I wanted to show everyone how easy having a beauty routine can be. I wanted beauty to be accessible for everyone, and I wanted to dispel those beauty myths that I see every.single.week. Example: Preparation H won't do a thing for puffy eyes, ladies.

But did I start out doing a mostly-beauty blog? No. I thought no one but beauty fans would read it, so I blogged about everything else. It was a mess and kind of unpredictable as to what content I'd post. When I finally did move to mostly beauty, I lost readers who wanted just outfit collages or just my personal life, but this blog isn't about them. It's about what I like, so blog what makes you happy!

2: Bigger & Better Pictures
Cameras and Photoshop have now become a part of everyday lexicon, and of course, we are visual people. One of the biggest mistakes I made was my using my camera phone (all I had) for the first two years of pics on the blog. The pics were horrible and small, as Blogger automatically uploads in medium, and I never thought to make them larger. I know!

I don't have anyone to take or edit my pics, nor do I own a professional camera, but I can tell I have improved. I still have a long ways to go with learning pics and graphics, but I am truly proud at how much better they are now. You can have great content, but without great pics, the chances your post will get read decrease. I would also add a good blog design helps too with visuals.

3: Put Yourself Out There
Quick question: What's the difference between a magazine article and a blog? Short answer: with a blog, you feel you know the person, and maybe even trust her opinions. I've talked about this a few times before, but for the first year or so, you didn't see me on my blog. I wanted my blog to be a resource of information on all things beauty, but I didn't want "me" to be on here. It felt so self-centered. Ha!

Despite having a name for a blog title and blog address, there was no "Elle." Why? Since 5th grade on, people have felt the need to point out my physical flaws. Even to this day, it happens. If I have to deal with that in real life, why would I put myself out there to the world to be judged? Who would take beauty advice from an ugly girl? Look at the "big" bloggers--they are all gorgeous. Would anyone read what I had to say or just judge me first? I wasn't strong enough for that online ridicule yet.

I am so proud to say that I have worked so hard on this in the past year, and have certainly come a long way. I share more of myself on here (it is hard to marry beauty with your life in a post that isn't a mile long), started a Youtube (I was so nervous about my Southern accent. I would break out in hives after each video!), and I finally started accepting invites for blogging events.

Does it suck when I lost half my viewers after my first Youtube video last year when I was 40 pounds heavier? Yes. Do it suck when a pic of my coffee on Instagram gets twice the likes as a pic of myself? Yes. But at the end of the day, I love myself. And that's all that matters, which leads me into my last mistake:

4: You Can't Please Everyone
Hello, my name is Elle and I have been on a life-long mission to have everyone like me. But guess what? It is impossible. Impossible! No matter what I do, not everyone likes me, and that hurts. And that is just a part of life. To put it in a much, much bigger picture: name one celebrity everyone likes. You can't! Name a food everyone likes--you can't!

Things I tried: people wanted more reviews, so I did more of those, but then I got the same amount of people who don't like reviews. People wanted less drugstore, more high-end, and then I got complaints on that. People wanted videos so I started a Youtube last year, but it is my lowest-viewed content. I'm too conservative because I don't cuss or talk about my period. I'm too liberal because I posted pics of wine or because I accept everyone. Unfollow! I post too many pics of myself. I post too few. I talk too much about myself. I talk too little. You just can't win.

I know I'm a nice person, have great content, am knowledgeable, etc, but there are some people who will never like me or my blog. I don't get it. But what I do get is once you accept that you can't please everyone, you won't feel that stress of having to please people. To repeat #2, blog about what you want and what makes you happy.

Love these! Great post and tips. I think comparing is another downfall. Be inspired by others, but don't get caught up in comparing - some people blog for fun, others blog as a full time job, have endorsements, professional photographers, etc.... I have to remind myself constantly - you can't be all things!

Love this post and yea, I'm at the stage of having ONLY my camera phone now but it's okay, my blog is my personal getaway from real life and I'm happy with it. You're right, blog about what you want and that's what I am doing. LOL! And hun, you can never please everyone but know that your real fans LOVE YOU!

Yes blogging is not easy and there is a lot to learn and many mistakes to make. And photos and graphics is VERY important. Many people do not realize this. I think there is room for everything. I know plenty of blogs in which the bloggers almost never appear on their blog and they are very successful. And WOW you lost 40 pounds? Good job!!

I enjoy reading beauty posts of u but I even enjoy more personal posts like this one~ These are all very true & helpful tips! I esp esp have to agree w/ blogging what u want to blog abt & not trying to please everyone out there. I also think, once u have that initial mentality of wanting to make $ from ur blog, u end up losing the joy of blogging & burn out. Love for this post =)www.speakstyleandrock.com

I just watched your video and may I just say you are absolutely wonderful! Thank you for your refreshing honesty, sweet Elle :) And personally, I think you're beautiful, inside and out. Blessings to you!

I love #4! Here's the way I see it: I really like your personal posts, so I read them. I really like your drug store reviews, so I read them. I'm not big on videos, so I usually skip those, but if you're doing a tutorial of something I'd like to try, I watch.

And if you blog about something that doesn't interest me, it's not a big deal! I just click to the next blog in my reader! Why would I complain that you don't cater to my every whim?!

Your blog is great. Keeping doing what you do best. Most of your readers LOVE you, so forget about the whiners. :)

Elle, you are a beautiful woman with great tips always! I love your honesty and appreciate you being you! When I see your videos I see a vibrant, beautiful and successful woman. You write and share what your passion is and it comes through and keeps us other bloggers inspired and motivated! Happy Bloggiversary! 4 years and counting! xo

This is such a great post!! You're such a wonderful blogger Elle! I really need to invest in a camera to take my blog pictures with instead of my phone! These are all great tips and thank you for sharing them! I can't wait to watch your video later!

i still use my iphone for all my pics, but i ALWAYS edit them and make them bigger, because i, myself enjoy reading blogs who have bigger/edited photos so why not do that on my own blog. i want to get an actual nice camera (+ tripod) one of these day, but it's just not in my budget right now. but i did put it on my 30 before 30 list soooo maybe in the next few years.

a few questions:Can you send me a link to where you have posted your favorite eye brushes?Can you send me a link to where you posted how you use your naked eyeshadow palette? (i have naked2) I'm started to wear eyeshadow more often again and wanted to see some tips you use.And lastly, your teeth are SO white! Do you use something special for that?

so sorry for the long comment, but you have never steered me wrong and you always get back to me, unlike a ton of other "big bloggers" i follow.

I think that #1 is most important. I see people blogging about things that are trending but they have very little interest in. I think that when you blog about what you are interested in, you will be genuine and people will respect that.

I agree with the comments above. This post is another fave, Elle:) Not only did you give great tips, but it's also great to hear how far you have come. You're always so honest with your posts, and that's why we trust your reviews:) XOXO

great post! i really think it's important for bloggers to post about what THEY want to post about! that way we'll get a better glimpse into THEIR world and what they are thinking about! that's why i only post when i have something to say! it's been refreshing and my content is better when i dont force it. xo jillian - cornflake dreams

First of all, thanks for the tips! I only been blogging for about a year now, but my pics have drastically improved and I can't believe the difference! And second of all, I also can't believe people would tell you that you are ugly, especially to your face! You have gorgeous coloring, and I think you are beautiful! Besides looks don't correlate with beauty IQ!

Elle, you are such a lovely person- INSIDE AND OUT. Watching that video and listening to your #3 blogging mistake just about broke my heart. But kudos to you, babe, for overcoming your self-esteem to the point where you put that beautiful face out there for the world to see! I'm proud of you!

Elle, this video makes me so angry!! I think you are absolutely gorgeous and sweet and personable and I can't imagine what sort of a horrible person would tell you that they think you are ugly?! I would love to have your style and hair and beauty knowledge. People can be such jealous haters... don't let them get you down!

Secondly, this is a great idea for a post! I started blogging in 2006 and when I look back at those posts I just CRINGE. I have no idea what I was doing or even why I was blogging. The entire thing was just a random jumbled mess with small, poor quality photos. It's still a work in progress! But I think your advice that I most take to heart is that you can't please everyone. I try to remind myself that I ultimately started blogging for ME. I love that other people enjoy my writing and want to follow along, but for me that's not the most important thing; I need to stop thinking of blogging as a popularity contest!

You are so beautiful! And anyone that can't see it is nuts beyond me. As Dita Von Teese said, "You can be the ripest, juciest peach in the world and there is still going to be someone who doesn't like peaches". Thanks for this great post!

Very interesting...when I started my blog it was solely for me - to post whatever I wanted, recipes, craft projects, movie reviews, etc. Some people have told me I need to focus on one thing only but as you said - I am blogging for me and what makes me happy. A variety of things make me happy so that is what I do. You nailed it...you can't please everyone - it is your blog, do what makes you happy.

Hey girl. I have been following your blog for about a year and truly love it. I think you are beautiful inside and out. I have learned so much from you and appreciate all you do so very much. Thank you for everything :)

Oh Elle, my heart breaks to hear how so many people thought they could comment on your appearance! This happened to me extensively in middle school. When a guy finally started hanging out with me, his friend asked him why he chose me. UGH. So heartbreaking.

You are absolutely right. I have made a few of those mistakes myself but at the end of the day we always have to remember that it is our own blog and we should blog about what we want and what makes us happy, it is after all our own little space in the blogosphere

You are so right, it is impossible to please everyone. Every person has different preferences and you cannot meet all of them. But I personally do not have to like every post in blogs I am following, if the majority appeals to me, I'll stick around ;)

These are great tips!! I used my iPhone at first because I didn't tell Tyler I was starting a blog!! Haha once I finally told him he offered to use his fancy camera to take the pictures.. When I go back and look at my first few posts, I cringe.. they are so jumbled! I like to "think" I've improved since then, hha!www.amemoryofus.blogspot.com

I loved this! I still have no direction for my blog after blogging nearly six years, but I'm realizing that it's so important for me to blog about what I love, not what I think people want to read. And I definitely hear you about the pictures. I look back on some of my old posts and cringe. I have a much nicer camera now, and a husband that can snap photos, which makes things look much better. Kudos to you for taking all the pictures yourself! :)

Aw I remember when you were too shy to post pics of yourself. Look how far you've come! All great tips for newbie bloggers. I'd also add don't get swept up in competing with other bloggers. Just do you :)

It's so true about photos. I know I am more drawn to cook a recipe if it looks prettier or wear an outfit if the colors pop. Not everyone has to be a professional photographer (I mean, if everyone else was then I'd be out of a job, haha!), but pulling out an actual camera makes a big difference over using a phone. Great advice, girl!

Hi Elle! I really enjoyed this post- it was so personal and informative!

As someone who is new to blogging, I totally emphasize with everything you've put here! I am also hesitant to put my picture too often when I post, thought I'm getting more used to it! I also know how important it is to have nice-looking pictures. Might be time to invest in a better camera and put more effort in aspect!

It was a bit heartbreaking to read the bits about you losing followers over superficial things, but I guess that is the nature of the internet! People lose interest easily and for so many varied reasons. You should be proud to have so many loving followers though. Keep going!

What a fascinating read, Elle. I think each blogger has to find their own voice and constantly evolve, learn and take tips to make their space interesting for others and most importantly for themselves. I still haven't found my niche, my strengths but as long as I am true to myself I should be on the right track. xxx

I'm so happy you did this, I voted for this on instagram! hehe But yeah I really enjoy reading the different things you've learned from blogging for so long. I know I'm still learning myself because I'm still new to blogging but i really do enjoy it. I think the biggest thing for me is that you can't please everyone, it still hits me hard when I get a mean comment or message but I try to not let it get to me. But that's something I'm still trying to get over myself. Thanks for the post I found it very informative. :)